Association of Sjögren's syndrome with HLA-B8

HLA antigens were examined by microdroplet lymphocyte cytotoxicity in 31 patients with Sjögrens syndrome. Fifty percent of 22 Causcasian patients (7 of 17 females and 4 of 5 males) had HLA-B8, as compared to 21% of 1205 controls (P=0.002). The presence of HLA-B8 was not correlated with parotid salivary flow, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or focus score. Because of its association with a number of autoimmune diseases, including Sjögren's syndrome, it is suggested that HLA-B8 is genetically liked to an immune response gene(s) that predisposes the individual to autoimmune phenomena. The expression of autoimmunity may be determined by infectious or environmental factors.